April 2008 Reader's Tech Tips

Charged UpIf you race without an alternator, here's a trick to keep your battery charged. Mount remote battery panels to the side dash panel. Now, run a line from the battery of your tow vehicle through the trailer light wires to the remotes on the racecar. Now you can recharge your battery while you drive to the track.

Richard GruseHammond, LA

Third Member AdjusterWhen adjusting the Third Member in a Midget or Sprint car, the axle needs to be held at a constant height while free to slide fore and aft. Instead of cutting a set of different height blocks (or duct taping different stacks of washers to the top of one block) make an adjustable tool for each side of the axle out of some scrap angle tube and threaded rod. The surface for the axle is a fender washer welded to the end of the threaded rod and ground smooth.

KS AmerRoseville, Calif.USAC Ford Focus Midgets

SB Chevy Lifter TrickWhen racing a small-block Chevy with either solid or hydraulic lifters, I always use a lifter valley tray (available for $14-$20 from a variety of retailers). If you break a rocker or pushrod, the tray will keep the lifter in the correct location so you can replace the rocker or pushrod without removing the intake.

Kurt BaucumChandler, Ariz.

4/5

Safety Is Always FirstToo many times I've seen a crewmember scald themselves by ripping off the hood and dumping water on an over-heated radiator. To quickly and safely cool an overheated car, we always use an air-pressured water fire extinguisher (available through your local fire company). You can recharge them easily and quickly using a regular air compressor.

Drill a one inch hole in your hood just in front of your radiator and mount a small door with stick-on magnets or Velcro backing to keep the door closed while racing, but enable quick access in the pits.

When the car enters the pits with an overheated engine, simply open the door and feed the nozzle of the extinguisher in far enough to get the cold water onto the radiator. A few minutes of pre-planning is all it takes. No one gets burned and your engine, head gasket, etc., may be saved...SAFELY.

Donnie "The Gas Man" Connor#01 Limited Late Model

5/5

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